Cord take-up structure



Aug. 8, 1933. B. J. TAMARIN 1,921,438

com: TAKE-UP STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 9, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 1.\'I EN TOR.

RNE Y.

Aug. 8, 1933.

B. J. TAMARIN CORD TAKE-UP STRUCTURE 6 Shee's-Sheet 2 Filed 001:. 9, 1928 I Y Y INVENTOR. Jfi'w/ZZ M74724 1933- B. J. TAMARIN 1,921,438

CORD TAKE-UP STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 9, 1928 6 Sheets-$31661", 3-

gwumtoc fierzzafd/Ymarz'zz 4 B. J. TAMARIN CORD TAKE-UP STRUCTURE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed 001;. 9. 1928 Aug. 8, 1933. B. J. TAMARIN CORD TAKE-UP STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 9, l928 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Aug. 8, 1933. B. J. TAMARIN 1,921,438

. CORD-TAKE-UP STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 9, 1928 e Sheets-Sheet 6 gwuentoz jar/2am J jk/rzarz'fz Patented Aug- 8, 1933 I 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE com) TAKE-UP STRUCTURE Bernard J. Tamar-in, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application October 9, 1928. Serial No. 311,377 Claims. (01. 242-101) -This invention relates to a cord take-up struc- Figure 1 is fl'ent elevation 01 the device. ture and more particularly to a take-up strucp y in seetiohture for the electric cord of a vacuum cleaning Figure 2 i8\ 8 V a ect o al View. machine, and is in part a continuation of my Figure 3 is side elevation with Parts k i a copending application filed December 30th, 1921, a illustrating t of the commutator-in Serial Number.2 43,694. geievatienf The primary objectof the invention is the Figure, 4 is a Vertical ct nal V ew with the provision of improved structural features that cover e collectively will enable the device to more efiec- Figure 5 is an nla d s de elevation with .tively take care of all requirements during the Portions ii easing rok n aw yuse thereof and will resist wear or breakage Figure 6 is a detail View Of the braking d v ce over a long period of time. and associated p An object of the invention is the design and Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional V w Of a cor-elation of' the component parts which facili portion of the fl e tate assemblage operations and besides enables Figure 3 is a P p v V w O the t umb 70 the component parts to be economically ievermanufactured. Figure 9 is an enlarged vertical sectional view.- Another object of the invention is the provi- Figure 10 is a side elevation f the n in sion of 'a unique type of braking device which blockis practically fool proof and which will function Figure 11 is 8' ct 0 a1 V ew On line 1-11 75 accurately under all conditions. of Figure 10.

Another object of the invention is the eon- Figure 12 is a side elevation of the insulating 'struction and novel arrangement of an improved block u a ng the mounting of the ringstype of commutator, whereby current may be Figure 13 is an enlarged sectional view through readily conveyed to and from the reel structure he cas illu Parts Of the eemmutatorso in a mannerto meet all commercial require- Figure, 14 is a sectional view of one of the ments. contact clips.

A feature of the invention resides in the use Figure 15 is adetail sectional view of one of of a multiplicity of braking elements capable the contact devices.

of collective actionfor assuring a positive braking Figure 16 is a diagrammatic view illustrating effect and the proper distribution of strains inthe manner in which the component parts of cidental thereto; the reel structure are assembled.

Another feature of the invention resides in Figurev 1'7 is'an enlarged sectional view of the the provision. of a braking device having "long brake device. life and one that includes a plurality of indi- Figure 18 is a sectional view of the handle advidual braking elements each capable of fully jacent the remote control. braking the movement of the reel. Figure 19 is a perspective view of the thumb Besides the above, my invention is distinelement. guished in a design of commutator that may Figure 20 1s a detail view of the brake cam. 5%

. be easily arranged in place or removed; a reel Figure 21 is a diagrammatic view of the structure that may be readily inserted and recircuits. 1 moved from the casing, and a braking device The present invention consists basically of'amounted independently and cofunctioning with handle 1, a reel structure 2, a brake structure 3 the reel structure in a manner-as not to be disand a commutator 4, all of which are so core- 45 turbed in the mounting or removing of the reel lated as to produce a unitary device that may structure and the commutator. be very quickly connected to or disconnected Another exclusive feature of the present in-. from vacuum cleaning machines now on the vention resides in the refinement of construcmarket for the control of electric'cords used tion of the various parts that assures greater therewith. durability and lower production costs. The handle 1 as clearly set forth and described with these and other objects in view, the inthe above mentioned copending application invention will be better understood from the consists of a casing 5 provided with an inlet -6 following detailed description taken in conand an outlet 7, the former connected to the tubnection with the accompanying drawings, ing 8 of the handle and the latter associated 55 wherein,- with a fitting 9 whereby'the handle may be I quickly and effectively secured to the socket of the head portion of the commercially known types of vacuum cleaning machines now on the market. The casing 5 is provided with a closed wall 10 and an open wall 11, the opening 12 of which is adapted to be closed by a removable cover plate 13. This cover plate is effectively held in place by a single locking screw 14 that is arranged in engagement with a portion of the reel structure 2, as hereinafter set forth. To

- complete the handle I provide a hand grip 15 of ly secured to the stamping 17 that provides a housing 18 for the operating motor of the reel illustrated in this particular instance as a coil spring 19. Attention is called to the fact that =the stampings 16, 17 and 18 are provided with alined openings 20 for receiving the hub member 21 upon which the reel is mounted for free rotation. Thus hub member 21 has a tight fit with a stub shaft 22 which in turn is provided with a screw 23 threaded into the stud 24 formed integral with and projecting from the closed wall of the casing. It will be noted that this shaft 22 is provided with a collar 25 that has an abutting relation with the end of the hub member 21 so ,that a binding engagement can be brought about between the hub member and the stub shaft to prevent rotating of the former, a necessary feature in view of the fact that'the inner end of the spring 19 is fixed to the'hub member as indicated at 26. The other end of the spring is fixed to a pin 27 carried by the reel proper and thus it can be appreciated that movementof the reel in one direction will tension the spring.

which will enable the spring to react in the opposite direction when the latter is released in a manner hereinafter described.

I now wish to call particular attention to a very important improvement incorporated in the construction of the hub member 21 and parts associated therewith. Referring to Figure 17 it will be noted that opposite surfaces of the stud 24 and hub member 21 are provided with ratchet teeth 28 cofunctioning to allow the hub member 21 to be turned in one direction relative to the stub shaft 22, but positively locking the hub member against movement in'a reverse direction when the ratchet teeth are brought into locking engagement with each other. Elie free end portion of thehub member21 is provided for any spring with notches 29 for the reception of an instrument or coin, as illustrated, whereby the hub member 21 may be given rotatable movements for varying the normal tension of the spring 19 and thus it can be appreciated that through a very simple adjustment the initial: or normal resiliency of the spring can be changed to meet necessary requirements, and besides compensate fatigue that may take place over a long period of use.

My improve commutator 4 by means of 'which the elec ic current is effectively con- 44 in the reel for accommodating the passage ,cess 33 provided by the depressed portion 19 of the stamping 18. This insulating block 32, as clearly shown in Figures 10 and 11 is provided with arcuate projections 34 fitting within arcuate slots 35 provided in the depressedportion 19 which assures proper positioning of the insulating block and besides positively prevents displacement of the block during the use thereof. The depressed portidn 19 is provided with a third slot corresponding to the shape of the slots 35 for the reception of an insulating "insert 37 that effectively covers the clips 38 to prevent any tendency of these parts to spark or come into electrical connection with the metallic portions of the reel. The clips 38 extend from the contact rings 39 and 40 for establishing electrical connection between the contact rings and the ends of the conductor 41, the extreme end portion of which assuming an arcuate formation when seated in the arcuate groove 42 provided in the insulating block. Communicating with this groove 42 is an outlet 43 communicating with the peripheral surface of the insulating block and alining with the slot of the conductor 41 to the reel proper. Particular attention is called to the fact that the connections between the clips and the ends of the conductor are protected from undue strain by the arcuate formation of the conductor which is of vital importance in the use of the device as the same is subject at times-to very rough usage. I

For the purpose of reducing friction to a minimum and to provide increased bearing surfaces I' provide a collar 45 rotatably mounted v on the hub member 21 and having a binding engagement with the walls of a bore 46 formed in the insulating block and one of the heretofore mentioned openings 20. Attention is called .ciated parts properly assembled, while, at.the same time allowing free movements of the reel to the fact that the design and corelation of the stub shaft 22, hub member 21 and sleeve 45 is such that upon mounting of the stub shaft in place the collar 25 will hold the assoblage thereof and'accuracy of connection which is a very important feature when taken in consideration with the fact that practically all assembling operations will be performed by unskilled labor. I,

Arranged in predetermined positions relative to the opening 12 is a pair of contact devices 47 forming the terminals for the motor circuit 1 48. and. the switch circuit 49 in which is arranged veyed to and from the motor of the vacuum I cleaner through the reel structure consists basically of a movable part .30 carried by the reel and a stationary portion 31 carried by the the switch 50. Each contact device is of a design to provide an upper section 51 and a lower section 52 of insulating material such as bakelite and these sections are effectively secured together by an eyelet 53 that is threaded to have proper engagement with the attaching screw 54 mounted in the casing 5. These sections cooperate toprovide a serrated inlet 55 for clamping engagement with the end of the con- 1 ductor passing into the device for the making terminals 58 and the contact clips carried by the.

contact devices, the clips may be provided with projections 62 for snapping engagement into openings 63 formed in the upper limbs-67. This snapping engagement assures proper positioning of the connector 61 and serves as an indication to the assembler that the connection has been properly made. For the purpose of facilitating this particular assemblage operation; the connector 61 is provided with a centrally located I hole 64, the wall of which is rotatablymounted on the free end of the stub shaft 22 so that the connector may be rotated about the stub shaft for swinging the exposed terminals 58 mechanically into proper interlocking perfect electrical connection with the contact devices. Lwish to call particular attention to the fact that the design, corelation and relative movement between the parts just mentioned is such that a perfect electric connection is assured with very little effort. Referring to Figure '7 it will be noted that the brushes engaging the contact rings are in the form of plungers slidably mounted in holders '66 that are inserted in the insulating body and electrically connected to the conducting strips 59 carried thereby. As these plungers are spring pressed, as indicated. at 67, it will be appreciated that perfect wiping contact is provided and wear automatically compensated for which is an important featurein view of the long life of the device.

The brakestructure 3, a very important part of the present invention, is of a design that wear is reducedto a minimum and the strains incidental to the use thereof equally distributed so as to"be properly taken careeof in the use of the cord take-up structure. This brake structure in one of its many forms consists basically of a plurality of braking elements mounted for movement in predetermined directions so as to have a-braking and nonbraking engagement with the reel and associated with a movable supporting element capable of remote control whereby. the braking elements collectively may be moved in to and out of operative position. To accomplish this desired result, the brake structure consists of aatrack. 68in the form of a ring of a hardened construction and fixed to the side of the reel as clearly shown in the enlarged sectional view,'Figure.1'1. The stud.24 is provided with a squared portion 69 upon which is removablyrnounted a cam member '70 provided with a plurality of cam portions 71 operatively related with a corresponding number of brake elements illustrated as rollers '72, the bearing pins 73 of which are mounted in elongated bearing openings 74in a cage 75. .This cage is .mounted on ahardened bearing ring 76 that .is in turn fixed against rotation upon the squared portion 69 of the stud. Due to the elongation of the bearing openings 74 the rollers 72 have a limited radial movement for enabling the cam portion 71 of the cam to force the rollers '72 into and out of braking'relation with the inner peripheral surface of the track 68 which enables the accurate control of the-movements of the reel., The cage '15 as clearly shown in Figure 6 is provided with a finger 78 in which is arranged a pocket 79 providing a seat for the flattened end 80 of the actuated rod 81. The other end of the rod 81 is threaded and passed through a hole 81b, of the lever 82 so as to have mounted thereon the clamp nuts 83 for efiectively securing the rod to the control lever 82. The thumb piece 84, the remaining element of the remote control, is secured to a clip 85' that is of U-shaped formation to provide the parallel limbs 86 of a-shape to have a sliding fit with the edge portions of the lever 82, to bring about an interlocking engagement between the lugs 87 carried by the lever and the openings 88 in the limbs 86. Thus, it will be appreciated that the thumb piece may be readily brought into'interlocking engagement with the lever 82 for the-assemblage of the parts which also enables a quick disconnection of the thumb piece from the lever to allow proper adjustment of the nuts 83 for accommodating adjustment of the rod 81. To complete the brake structure 1 provide a release spring 89 mounted in an'arcuate recess 90 in the inner surface of the wall of the casing so that one end of the spring may abut the end wall of the recess and the other end abut the pin or projection 91 carried by 'the cage 75. As the lever 82 is mounted on a pivot pin 92 carried by the tubing it will be appreciated that pressure upon the thumb piece 84-. will give'rectilinear movements to the rod 81 for swinging the cage in a direction opposing the resiliency of the spring 89 which action retracts the braking elements out of braking engagement with the reel for allowing the same to function to wrap the cord therearound. Attention is called to the simplified design and corelation of the component parts of the braking structure which enables the'same to be very quickly arranged inassembled relation upon the stud in a manner as not to disturb the insertion and removal of the reel structure.

In the assemblage of the complete device, the reel proper is first assembled by bringing the various stampings into proper relation and se-:

curing the same together by any of the well known methods utilized in quantity production. Previous to the securing of the stamping 16 to the stamping 1'7, the coil spring with the hub member 21 attached thereto is arranged within the stamping 17with the ends of the hub member properly passed through the openings 20 of the various stampings. Due to the fact that the inner end of the spring is effectively secured to the hub member and the outer end of the spring is secured to a pin carried by the stamping 17, it will be appreciated thatrelative movement between the stampings and'the hub member will tension the spring. Upon the formation of the reel as just set forth, the insulating block with thev sleeve 45 assembled therewith is mounted on the protruding end of the hub member so as to beproperly seated within the recess of the depressed portion 19.

In the seating of the insulating block, the projections 34 thereof are forced into the arcuate slots 35, thereby assuring proper positioning of the insulating block and the positive retention thereof against displacement.

s As the component parts of the reel structure have now been properly assembled, I will convided with a squared portion for receiving the bearing ring '76, and cam '70 which positively holds these elements against rotatable movement but allows the same to be readily removed by rectilinear movement longitudinally of the stud 24. The cage '75 is directly mounted upon the bearing ring '76 and this cage directly receives the rollers 72 that are positioned between the cam and the track 68 directly riveted to the side of the reel. Previous to the mounting of the cage upon the bearing ring 76 the spring 89 has been arranged in place to have abutting relation with the projection of the cage. as.

screw threading to the stud 24 which brings about a binding engagement between the stub shaft and the stud and a locking arrangement between the stub shaft and the stud and a locking arrangement of the hub member due to the arrangement of the collar 25. It will now be appreciated that removal of the stub shaft will enable the reel structure as aunit to be readily removed from the casing without disturbing the assembled formation of the elements of the brake structure'which will enable any required repairs to be made to the reel structure without the necessity of readjusting the parts of the brake structure. With the reel structure and the brake structure properly assembled it is a very simple operation to mount the connector upon the stub shaft and give the same a partial turn for swinging the exposed terminals into proper interlocking electrical connection with the contact devices 47. As the brushes carried by the connector have a fixed relation with the axis of the stub shaft it will be appreciated that the proper alining of the brushes with the contact rings is assured. The cover plate 13 is now arranged in place with the screw 14 mounted in .the end of the stub shaft for locking the cover at the point 'of connection with the insulating block so as to relieve the clips 38 of undue strain,

and the other end portiondrawn from the reel andthrough the 'tube to initially tension the spring of the reel. Y

- In the operation of the device, the hand engaging the hand grip is utilized to manipulate the thuinb piece 84 for the rendering of the brake device active and inactive, which action regulates the rotatable movements of the .reel and the movement of the cord to and from the 'reel structure. In this particular case, manipulation of the thumb piece 84 moves the cage against-the action of the spring into a position to destroy the binding engagement between the cam elements and the track, thereby enabling the 'spring to freely function to rotate the reel for the winding of the cord thereupon. -When the required amount of cord has been wound uponlthe reel the thumb piece 34 is released, which instantly'stops further rotation of the been heretofore stated that the -stud24 is proreel due to the novel type of brake device utilized which incorporates in its structure a plusurfaces of the track for the instant stoppage of further movement of the reel. Movement of the cage in a reverse direction will disengage the rollers from a binding engagementwith the reel structure to enable the latter to rotate the required amount to properly wrap the cord upon the reel. t

In concluding, I wish to lay considerable stress upon the simplified design of the component parts and their manner of association, which not only materially reduces production costs but assures perfect electrical connection and a posi+ tive elimination of all tendency of parts to spark. It will of course, be understood that structural changes can be made to meet specific manufacturing requirements without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore, I do not wish to be limited in protection in any manner whatsoever except as set forth in the following claims. I

I claim:

1. A cord take-up structure comprisinga casing, a stub shaft removably supported by-said casing, a hub member detachably mounted on said stub shaft, a reel rotatably mountedon said hub member, an operating spring forsaid reel having its ends connected respectively to the I reel and to said hub member and a remote confixed thereto, a reel rotatably mounted on said hub member, a spring having one end connected to the reel and the other end to the hub member, a ring fixed to the casing, a cam fixed to the said stud, a plurality of braking elements mounted to be moved into braking engagement with the ring through the action of said cam and'a remote control for moving said elements relative to said cam. I

3. Acord take up structure comprising a casing having one wall closed and its opposite wall provided with an opening, a stub projecting from the closed wall, a hub member mounted on the stub and capable of adjustments therearound, a brake device mounted'on said stub and a reel structure removably mounted on the hub member and under, the control-of saidfbrake and ineluding a spring having one end connected to provided with an opening, a stub projectinglliO from the closed wall, a hub member mounted on the stub and capable of adjustments therearound, a brake device mounted on said stub and a reel structure removably mounted onthe hub member and under the control of said brake and including a spring having one end connected to the hub member whereby the tension of the spring may be regulated by adjusting the hub member relative to said stub and a stub shaft adapted to he slipped through said hub member casing, a hub member having a ratchet connection with said stub, a brake having a sliding attaching connection with said stub, a reel structure having a sliding attaching connection with said hub member for movement into proper relation with said brake, a stub shaft slid through said hub member and provided with a collar having an abutting relation with said reel structure to prevent displacement thereof, said reel structure including a spring having one end connected' to the hub memberwhereby the tension of the spring may be adjusted by adjusting the hub member through its ratchet connection with said stub. v

BERNARD J. TAMARIN. 

